Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Four men working for the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) were reportedly killed, and a number of others injured, in an alleged Israeli airstrike or artillery strike on their vehicle in the town of Khuza’a, located east of Khan Younis close to the Israel-Gaza border fence, on the morning of Saturday 19th October 2024.
A large number of sources – including the Khuza’a municipality Facebook page, the CMWU, news outlets such as the Palestinian Press Agency (SAFA), and numerous friends and family members – identified four men to have been killed in the strike.
The men, all CMWU employees, were named as engineer Ghassan Ibrahim al-Najjar (Abu Iyas), engineer Asem Salem al-Najjar (Abu Yassin), Mohammed Atwa Qudieh (Abu Adam), and Hamada Abu Rouk.
Certain sources, including the Khan Younis Post, also reported that the incident had resulted in “a number of wounded.”
Those killed in the incident were transported to the European Hospital in Khan Younis, and a photo circulated on Twitter/X by sources, including the Palestinian Information Centre, showed two of the bodies wrapped in white shrouds upon their arrival, while dozens of men were looking at them.
The CMWU is the organisation responsible for water and sanitation services in the Gaza Strip. The strike on the CMWU vehicle, which was carrying the four men to work on Khuza’a town’s water facilities, reportedly occurred despite prior coordination with Israeli forces and clear vehicle identification markings.
In a Facebook post, the CMWU mourned the four men, writing that they were killed “while they were heading to a work site despite the security coordination for them through the competent authorities and giving them the green light to move to the coordinated place in order to go to that site, which led to their martyrdom while performing their national and humanitarian duty to serve our people in Khan Younis Governorate. The Water Utility extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the martyrs, and also calls on the United Nations and international institutions and organizations to provide protection for all emergency teams affiliated with the Water Utility and Municipalities, as many emergency teams in the Coastal Water Utility and Municipalities have been subjected to bombing since the beginning of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.”
The Khuza’a Municipality also issued a strong statement on Facebook, further mourning the water workers and emphasising the impact on the town’s water supply. The statement underlined that the men’s vehicle was hit “as they were on their way to make repairs to the town’s water networks and despite prior coordination with Israeli authorities through the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and Coastal Municipalities Water Authority (CMWU), the bombarded vehicle was bearing familiar markings on the Israeli side as they had coordinated with them several times before.” The statement further emphasised that the strike “makes it difficult to reach and deliver water to villagers in the town.”
UK charity Oxfam published a press release regarding the incident on their website on 21st October 2024, stating that “Oxfam condemns in the strongest terms the killing in Gaza of four water engineers and workers from the Khuza’a municipality who were working with our strategic partner the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU). The four men were killed on their way to conduct repairs to water infrastructure in Khuza’a, east of Khan Younis. Despite prior coordination with Israeli authorities, their clearly-marked vehicle was bombed. Oxfam stands in solidarity with the CMWU, their partners and the families of the victims. Their deaths deepen the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza where access to clean water is already severely compromised.”
In addition to these statements, a large number of relatives, friends, and colleagues paid their own personal tributes to those killed, expressing their grief and shock at the news and further highlighting the men’s distinguished record of public service to the town of Khuza’a.
Aml Waleed Qudieh wrote on Facebook, “Oh my God, this news is like a thunderbolt… May God have mercy on the martyrs and may God protect you, Khuza’a, you and your family.”
Umm Ibrahim al-Najjar echoed the same message, posting “May God have mercy on the martyrs of Khuza’a. The loss is great.”
Meanwhile, Yahya Fawaz, who worked with those killed, asked, “May God have mercy on our colleagues,” describing them as “Among the kindest and best staff of our municipality.” He posted a photo of each man alongside his tribute. The victims were all adult men of various ages.
The al-Najjar Family Forum Facebook page announced that “With great sadness and sorrow, the al-Najjar family in the homeland and diaspora mourns the best of its sons [Ghassan Ibrahim al-Najjar and Asem Salem al-Najjar] and their colleagues [Mohammed Atwa Qudieh and Hamada Abu Rouk].” Photos included alongside the post showed the men carrying out their work in their orange high-visibility CMWU vests.
Hamza Abu Rijla mourned his “friend and beloved” Hamada Abu Rouk, asking, “May God have mercy on you, my beloved. By God, your separation is difficult. You broke my heart, Hamada.” He added an image of Hamada who was a young man.
Hani Z Qudieh shared a tribute to his cousin, Mohammed Atwa Qudieh, writing that “The eye sheds tears, the heart grieves, and we are saddened by your departure.” He attached an image of the late Mohammed, a man dressed in a white Adidas T-shirt. In other pictures shared on social media Mohammed is seen at his work, dressed in a striped T-shirt and an orange vest.
“Al maktab al haraki lltamarid aqleem al sharqia” Facebook account extended condolences to Abeer Ibrahim al-Najjar for the martyrdom of her brother, Engineer Ghassan al-Najjar, sharing an image of Ghassan. He was an adult man captured while he was speaking on a mobile phone.
Alaa Mohammad Qudieh shared his memory of the men’s joint effort to help water reach the town of Khuza’a, recounting, “I remember when we entered Khuza’a after the military operation ended there, and how brother Mohammed Atwa [Qudieh] and his comrades from the municipality employees made tremendous efforts to deliver water to the town of Khuza’a. Every time the water reached the town, he [Mohammed Atwa Qudieh] would jump with joy like a little child… Beloved friend [Mohammed Atwa Qudieh]… Beloved engineer [Ghassan Ibrahim al-Najjar]… Beloved engineer [Asem Salem al-Najjar]… Beloved friend [Hamada Abu Rouk]… We ask God that every drop of water that entered Khuza’a be in the balance of your good deeds… And that God reward you with the best reward and have mercy on you and forgive you.” He also posted pictures of them working with a large machine.
Ibrahim Raida also paid tribute to their service to the town of Khuza’a, describing the four men as “Those who carried their souls on their palms and were at the forefront of their work in serving the steadfast people [of Khuza’a].”
The engineer Khaled al-Najjar further echoed this, describing the men as “The best sons of the town and the backbone of the municipality of Khuza’a.”
Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to Israeli forces.
The incident occured in the morning.
The victims were named as:
Family members (2)
The victims were named as:
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of Khuza’a (خزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.307314, 34.360372. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (68) [ collapse]
Media
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Source: Aml Waleed Qudieh -
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Source: Um Ibrahim Al Najjar -
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Source: Yahya Fawaz -
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Source: multaqaa eayilat alnajaar -
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Source: Nabil Ishnino Al Najjar -
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Source: Nabil Ishnino Al Najjar -
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Source: Hamza Abo Rjila -
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Source: Hamza Abo Rjila -
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Source: CMWU Coastal Municipalities Water Utility -
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Source: Abo Al qasem Al Najjar -
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Source: Abo Al qasem Al Najjar -
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Source: eayilat qadih fi al watan w al shatat -
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Source: Majed Diyab Qudaih -
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Source: Alàá Móhàmmêd Qûdàíh -
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Source: Adham Qudaih -
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Source: Diaa Al Najjar -
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Source: Ibrahim Raida -
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Source: Eng. Khaled Al Najjar -
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Source: Sofian Al Aqad -
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Source: Mahmoud Basheer -
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Source: Ahmed Abo Rouk -
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Source: Mohammed Ousama Al Najjar -
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Source: Mohammed Ousama Al Najjar -
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Source: al maktab al haraki lltamarid aqleem al sharqia -
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